Ditching-machine.



G. L. NAUMANN.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26,1913.

1,100,604, Patented June 16, 1914.

2 SHEETS- SHEET 1.

G. L. NAUMANN.

Patented June 16, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH CQLWASHlNu'roN D c UNITED sTATE- si PATENT oEEioE.

GEORGE L. NAUMANN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-THIRD TO WILLIAM F. RILEYAND ONE-THIRD TO HUBERT (2R-ADOCK, BOTH OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

DITCI-IING-MACI-IINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 16, 1914.

Application `filed May 26, 1913. Serial No. 770,040.

To all whom it may concern: 3

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. l\lAUMA1\n\I,4 a citizen of the United States, residing inl St. Louis and State of Missouri, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements, in Ditching-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates generally to machines utilized for digging ditches or trenches, and more particularly to an attachment for such machines whereby the excavated earth is delivered onto an endless conveyer and carried thereby back into the; ditch or trench for the purpose of filling thesame and covering the pipe or, tile which is laid in the bot-tom of said ditch or trench.

The principal object of my invention is to combine with an ordinary and well known form of ditching or trenching machine an; endless conveyer preferably in the form ofI a belt which extends a substantial distance away fromk the machine so that the dirt taken from the ditch or trench by the digging buckets can be readily carried back and deposited in the ditch or trench upon the pipe laid therein, thus economically re-lling the ditch or trench with the dirt taken therefrom.

Further objects of my invention are to provide simple means for driving the conveyer, which carries the dirt back into the ditch, and to rovide a simple support for the outer portion of the framework upon which the endless conveyer operates.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, claimed and shownl 'in 4the accompanying` drawings in which- Figure 1, is a plan view of a portion of an ordinary ditching machine and showing my improvement combinedtherewith. Fig. 2, is a side elevational view of the parts seen in Fig. 1, with a portion of the ditch or trench shown in vertical section. Fig. 3, is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken approximately on the line 3*-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the drivingnshaft of the endless conveyer. Fig. 4, is an enlarged side elevational view showing the driving connections from the driving shaft of the ditching machine to the driving shaft of the endless conveyer. Fig. 5, is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line .5-5 of Fig. 4.

Referring by numerals to the accompanyling drawings, 10 designates the frame-work ris a transversely disposed driving shaft 14,

which is operated directly from the engine of the machine and fixed on one end of this shaft is a pinion 15 which meshes with a large gear wheel 16, the same being mounted on a transversely disposed shaft 17. This shaft 17 carries the sprocket wheels upon which the chains 12 operate. Arranged for operation on suitable rolling supports at the rear end ofthe ditching machine and beneath the conveyer comprising the chains 12 and buckets 13 is a transversely disposed belt conveyer 18the same being driven in any suitable manner. This conveyer receives the dirt which is carried up out of the trench by the buckets 13 and delivers said dirt to the Aside of the machine. The parts just described are of ordinary well known construction and form no part of my invention.

Detachably connected in any suitable manner to one side of the end ofthe ditching machine is an elongated frame or arm 19, the same being reinforced or stayed in any suitable manner, and arranged in the end of vthis arm immediately adjacent to the machine is a transversely disposed shaft 20 the inner end of which is connected by a universal joint 21 to a shaft 22 which latter is journaled in suitable bearings on the frame 10 of the machine. Arranged immediately above this shaft 22 is a second shaft 23, the same carrying a pinion 24 which meshes with a pinion 25 on the shaft 22. Arranged on the frame 10 and operating in suitable bearings is a shaft 26, on one end of which is fixed a gear wheel 27 which meshes with the large gear wheel 16 and carried by this shaft 2 6v is a sprocket wheel 28, which receives a sprocket chain 29, the latter operating upon a sprocket wheel 30, which is fixed on the shaft 23.

The driving connections just described provide means for driving the shaft 20, which latter carries a drum or roller 31, the same being arranged within the arm 19. perating upon this drum or roller 31 and passing over and beneath the arm 19 is an endless conveyer 32, the same operating around a drum or roller 33, which latter is preferably located in adjustable bearings at the outer end of said arm 19. Idle rollers 34 are arranged at suitable distances apart in the upper portion of the arm 19, said rollers being for the purpose of support-ing the endless carrier 32, as it passes over said arm. The underrunning portion of the conveyer is supported by idle rollers 35 arranged at suitable distances apart on the underside of the arm 19. Arranged at the sides of the arm 19 and slightly above the top thereof, are rails 36 which are supported in any suitable manner from said arm, said rails being for the purpose of preventing the dirt from dropping off the endless conveyer as it is carried thereby to the outer end of the arm.

Arranged immediately over the end of the arm 19, which is connected to the ditching machine, is a suitable framework 37 and journaled in suitable bearings at the ends thereof, are shafts 3S and 39, the latter being provided with a sprocket wheel 40 which receives the sprocket chain 41 and this sprocket chain passes around a sprocket wheel 42 that is fixed on the outer end of the shaft 20.

Operating upon suitable drums carried by the shafts 38 and 39 is an endless conveyer 43, the central portion of which is supported by suitable idle rollers and the rear portion of this conveyer is positioned directly beneath the outer end of the transverse conveyer 18. 1While in use, the outer end of the arm 19 and the endless conveyer operating thereon is supported by upright members or legs 44, the lower ends of which are provided with caster wheels 45 which engage on short rail sections 46, the same being supported in any suitable manner, preferably by means of a platform 47 which is laid directly upon transverse rails 4S, the same being positioned across the ditch or trench formed by the machine.

The operation is as follows: Rotary motion from the driving shaft 14 is transmitted to shaft 26 through gears 15, 16 and 27 and from thence to shaft 22 through sprocket chain 29 and pinions 24 and 25. Shaft 22 drives shaft 20 and thus the endless conveyer 32 is caused to move lengthwise over the arm 19. Rotary motion of the shaft 20 is transmitted-to shaft 39 through sprocket chain 41, thus operating the endless conveyer 43. The buckets 13 carry the dirt up out of the trench and deliver said dirt onto the transverse conveyer 18, by which said dirt is delivered onto the endless conveyer 43 and which latter delivers onto the inner end of conveyer 32. The arm 19 being of considerable length provides for the delivery of the excavated earth back into the trench, a considerable distance to the rear of the ditching machine.

It will be understood that the machine moves forward in its work very slowly and as the trench is formed by the digging buckets 13, workmen follow along and place pipe or tile in the trench immediately behind the lower end of the trenching arm. The arm 19 and conveyer thereon extend a considerable distance beyond this trenching arm, and consequently the excavated dirt is carried back a suflicient distance to be filled in the trench over the pipe laid therein.

Heretofore it has been the practice to deliver the excavated dirt alongside the trench formed by the machine and this dirt was afterward shoveled into the trench, but by my improved construction the excavated earth is delivered back into the trench on top of the pipe therein without extra labor and with the expenditure of but comparatively little power.

My improved refilling attaelnnent is comparatively simple, comprises a minimum number of parts, can be readily combined with ordinary forms of ditching and trenching machines, can be operated with little power, and provides efficient means for ec0- nomically filling trenches after the pipe or tile has been placed therein.

It will be readily understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved attachment for ditching machines can be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim- 1. The combination with a ditching machine, having a transversely disposed conveyer at its rear end to receive the dirt taken out of the ditch by the machine, of an elongated frame connected to one side of the machine at its rear end, an endless conveyer arranged for operation lengthwise on said frame, an intermediate endless conveyer interposed between the transverse conveyer of the machine, and the conveyer operating on said frame, and means for si` multaneously operating the intermediate conveyer and the conveyer on the frame.

2. The combination with a ditching machine, of an elongated frame connected to and projecting rearwardly from one side of the machine, an endless conveyer arranged for operation on said frame, a framework arranged above the inner end of said frame, a short endless conveyer arranged for operation in said framework, for delivering dirt elevated by the ditching machine onto the endless conveyer operating on the elongated frame, and means for simultaneously driving said endless conveyers.

3. An attachment for ditching machines comprising a framework applied to the rear end of the machine, an endless conveyer arranged for operation within said framework for receiving dirt elevated by said machine, an elongated frame adapted to be connected to the ditching machine and to extend rearwardly therefrom, the inner end of which frame is arranged beneath the first mentioned framework, an endless conveyer arranged for operation on the elongated frame, and means for simultaneously driving said endless eonveyers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiiX my signature in the presence of two witnesses, this 21st day of May, 1913.

GEORGE L. NAUMANN.

Witnesses HUBERT CRADOCK, W. F. RILEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

